Saenchai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saenchai |
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Saenchai in 2010
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| Born | Suphachai Saepong July 30, 1980 Kosum Phisai, Maha Sarakham, Thailand |
| Native name | ศุภชัย แสนพงษ์ |
| Other names | Saenchai Sor.Kingstar (แสนชัย ส.คิงส์สตาร์) Saenchai P.K. Saenchai Muaythaigym Saenchai Sinbimuaythai Saenchai Sor. Khamsing (แสนชัย ส.คำสิงห์) Sangpetch Patanakangym |
| Height | 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) |
| Division | Light Flyweight Flyweight Super Flyweight Bantamweight Super Bantamweight Featherweight Super Featherweight Lightweight Light Welterweight Welterweight Super Welterweight |
| Reach | 168 cm (66 in) |
| Style | Muay Thai, Muay Boran, Boxing |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Fighting out of | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 5 |
| Wins | 5 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 379 |
| Wins | 328 |
| By knockout | 42 |
| Losses | 49 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Notable students | Manachai |
Suphachai Saepong (Thai: ศุภชัย แสนพงษ์), known as Saenchai (Thai: แสนชัย), is a famous Thai Muay Thai fighter. He was born on July 30, 1980. Many people think he is one of the best and most skilled Muay Thai fighters ever.
Saenchai has won the Lumpinee Stadium championship six times in four different weight classes. He also won the Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year award in 1999 and 2008. He is known as the "Ultimate Boxer from Sarakham."
He often fought opponents who were heavier than him in Thailand. From 2003 to 2014, he only lost two fights in Thailand when the weights were equal. All his other losses happened when he was lighter than his opponent. Since 2010, he has fought many times in 15 different countries.
Saenchai is famous for his amazing head movements, quick footwork, and unusual kicks. He also uses jumping attacks. His speed and unique fighting style made him very hard to beat. He even uses old Muay Boran moves, which makes his fights exciting to watch. Since 2014, he mostly competes in special showcase fights around the world against foreign fighters.
He has won five King's Cup titles with the Thai Fight promotion. He holds the record for most titles (6) and most wins (52) in Thai Fight. Saenchai also had a short career as a professional boxer and was undefeated. Besides fighting, he has appeared in movies and documentaries like Yamada: The Samurai of Ayothaya (2010) and Lumpinee (2018).
Contents
Biography
Starting His Fighting Journey
Saenchai began learning Muay Thai when he was 8 years old. He was inspired to join Jocky gym after seeing his friend's older brother win a prize in a fight. He had his first fight after training for only one week and won! He earned 30 Baht, which was about $1 at the time.
When he was 14, he started fighting in Bangkok. Later, he moved to Kamsing gym, which was owned by Somluck Kamsing. Kamsing paid 300,000 Baht for Saenchai to join his gym. This is why Saenchai's fighting name became Saenchai Sor.Khamsing.
In 1997, at just 16 years old, Saenchai won his first Lumpinee Stadium championship in the super flyweight division. When he was 18, he won another Lumpinee Stadium title, this time in the bantamweight division.
Trying Out Boxing
In 2002, Saenchai decided to try professional boxing. He fought under the name "Suphachai Saenpong" in the featherweight division. On November 27, 2003, he won a title by beating Rud 4K Kevkatchewon from the Philippines. He kept this title in January 2004.
However, in 2004, he decided to go back to Muay Thai, his first love.
Changing Gyms
Saenchai traveled to Japan for fights a couple of times, with his gym owner Khamsing's permission. But when plans for a third trip came up, Khamsing disagreed. Saenchai still went to Japan with fighters from another gym. This caused problems between them, and Saenchai decided to join Kingstar gym. Kingstar gym paid Khamsing 300,000 Baht for the transfer.
On July 2, 2006, Saenchai fought Sang-Soo Lim from Korea in Japan. Lim was much taller and heavier than Saenchai. But Saenchai knocked Lim out in the second round with a strong right hook!
On July 3, 2009, Saenchai had a very unusual fight at Lumpinee Stadium. He fought two different Muay Thai fighters in one match! For the first three rounds, he fought Petchboonchu FA Group. Then, for the last two rounds, he fought Sagetdao Petpayathai. Saenchai won the fight by a unanimous decision.
Winning a World Title
On March 14, 2010, Saenchai fought Tetsuya Yamato from Japan in Los Angeles. He was fighting for a world lightweight title. Saenchai knocked out Yamato in the first round with a left high kick and won the title!
Big Moments in His Career
In 2011, Saenchai joined the Yokkao Fight Team, a big Muay Thai brand. He also took part in a large Muay Thai event in Italy with other famous fighters.
On January 21, 2012, Saenchai fought at a huge event called Yokkao Extreme 2012 in Italy. He lost a Muay Thai fight to a European fighter, Fabio Pinca, for the first time. Even though Pinca was 12 kg heavier, Saenchai fought well. The decision was close and a bit controversial. This loss ended Saenchai's long winning streak against foreign fighters.
He had many more important fights:
- On October 4, 2012, he beat Singdam Kiatmoo9 in a rematch.
- He won against Pakorn Sakyothin in Scotland on November 10, 2012.
- He beat Damian Alamos in France twelve days later.
- On December 9, 2012, he defeated Liam Harrison for the third time.
- He won against Diesellek Aoodonmuang in Italy on January 26, 2013.
- On March 9, 2013, he beat Houcine Bennoui in Ireland.
- He lost to a young fighter named Yodwicha Por Boonsit on May 10, 2013.
- On June 16, 2013, he won a kickboxing fight in Japan.
- He won the Toyota Vigo Marathon Tournament on July 24, 2013.
- He beat Kongsak Sitboonmee in a rematch on August 8, 2013.
- He fought Andrei Kulebin in China on September 17, 2013.
- He beat Singdam Kiatmuu9 again on November 15, 2013.
Later Career Highlights
In 2014, Saenchai continued to fight top opponents. He lost to Petchboonchu FA Group on February 7, 2014, at the last show in the old Lumpinee Stadium. He then defeated Victor Nagbe and Nong-O in other events. On September 24, 2014, Saenchai started fighting for the Thai Fight promotion, winning his first fight there.
Saenchai had a very successful year in 2018, winning all nine of his Muay Thai fights. He won his second and third THAI FIGHT King's Cup titles in 2018. He continued his winning streak in 2019, winning another THAI FIGHT King's Cup title, his second in the 70 kg division.
In 2020, Saenchai won the YOKKAO Diamond Welterweight title. He continued fighting and winning throughout 2020 and 2021, even with breaks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, it was announced that Saenchai would try bare-knuckle Muay Thai. He was set to fight fellow legend Buakaw Banchamek in March 2023. This fight was postponed but eventually happened on November 4, 2023, where Saenchai lost to Buakaw.
Titles and Accomplishments
Muay Thai
- Lumpinee Stadium
- 1997 Lumpinee Stadium Super Flyweight (115 lbs) Champion
- 1999 2x Lumpinee Stadium Bantamweight (118 lbs) Champion
- 2005 Lumpinee Stadium Super Featherweight (130 lbs) Champion
- One successful title defense
- 2006 Lumpinee Stadium Super Featherweight (130 lbs) Champion
- 2010 Lumpinee Stadium Lightweight (135 lbs) Champion
- One successful title defenses
- Muay Thai Association of America (MTAA)
- 2010 MTAA World Lightweight (135 lbs) Champion
- Toyota Cup
- 2010 Toyota Cup Tournament Champion
- World Muaythai Council (WMC)
- 2010 WMC World Lightweight (135 lbs) Champion
- One successful title defense
- 2010 WMC World Lightweight (135 lbs) Champion
- WBC Muay Thai
- 2011 WBC Diamond World Champion
- World Professional Muaythai Federation (WPMF)
- 2012 WPMF World Welterweight (147 lbs) Champion
- Muay Thai Warriors
- 2012 Muay Thai Warriors Welterweight (147 lbs) Campion
- Toyota Marathon
- 2014 Toyota Marathon Runner-up
- 2013 Toyota Vigo Marathon Tournament
- THAI FIGHT
- 2016 THAI FIGHT Kard Chuek 70 kg King's Cup Champion
- 2017 THAI FIGHT 67 kg King's Cup Champion
- 2018 THAI FIGHT 67 kg King's Cup Champion
- 2019 THAI FIGHT 70 kg King's Cup Champion
- 2022 THAI FIGHT 70 kg King's Cup Champion
- 2024 THAI FIGHT 70 kg King's Cup Champion
- Most championships in Thai Fight (6)
- Most wins in Thai Fight
- Phoenix Fighting Championship
- 2017 Phoenix Fighting Championship 63.5 kg Champion
- YOKKAO
- 2020 YOKKAO Diamond Welterweight (147 lbs) Champion
Boxing
- Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA)
- 2003 PABA Featherweight interim champion (Defense: 1)
Accomplishments
- Sports Writers Association of Thailand
- 1999 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year
- 2008 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year
- Sports Authority of Thailand
- 2008 Sports Authority of Thailand Fighter of the Year
Understanding Fighter Names
In Muay Thai, fighters often don't use their birth names when they become professionals. Instead, they usually take the name of their training camp as their last name. They might keep their first name or change it. If a fighter moves to a new gym or gets a new sponsor, their last name might change too.
Saenchai has used a few different names during his career:
- Saenchai Sor Kamsing / Saenchai Sor.Kamsing
- Sangpetch Patanakan Gym
- Saenchai Sor Kingstar / Saenchai Sor.Kingstar
- Saenchai Sor Saenchai / Saenchai Sor.Saen
